Spindle.



0.1LEM0INE 6 G. P. FOURNlER.

SPINDLE.

APPLICATION man MAY is. 1918.

' Patentd Feb. .18, 1919.

iUNFEED STATES PATENT @FFlQE.

SPINDLE.

Specification of Letters Extent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application filed May 15, 1918. Serial No. 234,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Davin Lnarornn and Gnoncn P- FoUnNInR, citizens ofthe United States, residing at VVhitinsville, in the county of Worcesterand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Spindle, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a spindle, and particularly to improveddevices for centering and driving a bobbin supported tliereon.

Variations in the inside diameter of bobbins are unavoidable, and a.satisfactory spindle must be to a certain extent self-adjustable tobobbins of varying inside dimensions.

It is the object of our invention to provide an improved spindle of thisself-adjusting type so designed that any bobbin within the range ofadjustment provided will be accurately centered on the spindle and willbe positively driven thereby.

lVith this general object in view, important features of our inventionrelate to the form and construction of the bobbin-engaging arms, to animproved supporting structure therefor by which the arms are accuratelycentered in every position, to improved and simplified devices forforcing the arms yieldingly outwardly, and to means for limiting saidoutward movement.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partsthereafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The preferred form of our invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a sectional elevation of our improved spindle;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the arms, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig- 1, but showing the arms in a differentposition.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a spindle blade on which ismounted a driving whirl 11 having an annular groove 12 of semi-circularcross section formed on its upper end. A plurality of arms 13 surroundthe blade 10 and are supported by the whirl 11. At their lower ends thearms are each provided with an outwardly and downwardly extending flange14: having a rounded lower edge as clearly shown in section in Fig. 1.This rounded edge corresponds in curvature to the section of the groove12 and rests therein. Pins 15 separate adjacent arms from each other.

A cap 16 is fited closely on a flange 17 extending upwardly from thewhirl 11 and serves to retain the arms 13 against displacement. Each armis provided with a notch 18 near its upper end within which is seated acircular eXpansible spring 19. This spring is preferably formed from asingle piece of resilient metal and may have the ends beveled andoverlapping as indicated at 20 in Fig. 3. The spring is herein shown asof circular cross section, but this is not essential.

When there is no bobbin on the spindle, the spring 19 forces the arms 18outwardly to the position shown in Fig- 5, in which position the arms attheir lower ends engage the cap 16 and are thereby prevented fromfurther outward movement. As the bobbin is forced downward thereover,the arms move inward to the position shown in Fig. 1. In their inwardand outward movements however, they swing about their bearing in theannular groove 12 and are thus continuously centered at their lowerends. The spindle supported thereon is accordingly accurately centered,and the yielding engagement of the arms with the bobbin provides for theefficient driving thereof.

The flanged portion of each arm 13 is of such section that it is insubstantial engage ment with the lower side of the cap 16 in everyposition of the arm, whereby the arm is held firmly seated on the whirl.It should be noted also that the entire centering device is independentof the spindle blade and has no direct connection thereto.

Having thus described our invention, it will be evident that changes andmodifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claims,

and we do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details hereindisclosed, but what we claim is- 1. A spindle having, in combination, ablade, a whirl, a plurality of upwardly ex tending arms seated on saidwhirl, a cap fitting said whirl and preventing displacement of saidarms, said arms having notches near their free upper ends and a circularexpansible spring positioned in said notches.

2. A. spindle having, in combination, a

5 blade, a whirl with an annular recess in its upper encl a plurality ofarms surrounding said blade and each seated at its lower end in saidrecess, means to prevent displacement of said arms, and an expansiblecircular band engaging the inner faces of said. 10 arms near the upperends thereof.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

DAVID LEMOINE. GEORGE P. FOURNIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

